This Is Your Binghamton New York Area News Recap

Whether you lead a busy life, or don't get to find out all that's happening news-wise in our community, this is why each week, we recap in an article, some of the essential local news we reported on 1290 AM, 92.1 FM, and 93.9 FM WNBF, our Townsquare Media Binghamton sister radio stations, as well as on our websites and social media platforms.

Catch up on some of the latest local and regional news items in a short recap we reported on for the week of April 6, 2026, from WNBF's Bob Joseph, Don Morgan, and the Townsquare Media staff.

GasBuddy: $5 A Gallon Gas Could Hit Binghamton By End of April

(Bob Joseph)
Binghamton-area motorists already coping with soaring gasoline prices should buckle up for additional increases in the coming weeks. Patrick De Haan, who oversees petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, anticipates rising pump prices for the foreseeable future as the Iran war continues. Gas prices at many stations in the Binghamton market appeared to jump 20 cents a gallon between Monday and Tuesday. A commonly posted price for regular was $4.19 a gallon. That compares to $2.89 a gallon before the start of the war in late March. De Haan told WNBF News Tuesday that $5 a gallon gas could be seen in Binghamton "by the end of April or potentially early May at the pace we're going, if nothing improves, that is a realistic possibility." But De Haan acknowledges the price situation is challenging because it essentially amounts to "predicting the unpredictable."

Main Street Mayhem: Binghamton Police Investigate Incidents

(Bob Joseph)
Binghamton police closed a section of Main Street on the city's West Side after a man was stabbed and a woman was struck by a vehicle. Shortly after those apparently unrelated incidents, a blue bus used to transport Binghamton University students reportedly struck a utility pole as it turned around because of the street closure. Police investigators have released no information about the stabbing and the pedestrian who was injured. Officers were sent to the West Side Citgo, a small convenience store at 96 Main Street, shortly after 8 p.m. Friday. A person who lives near the scene said men who had gathered on the side of the store near Mather Street apparently started to fight when one of them stabbed another. A woman who was in the roadway in front of the store was struck by a vehicle around 8:45 p.m.

Binghamton Caregiver Convicted Of Stealing $14,000 In Jewelry

(Don Morgan)
On Friday, April 3, 2026, in a release from Broome County District Attorney F. Paul Battisti, following a jury trial before Judge Elizabeth Burns, 45-year-old Bernard G. Barnes from Binghamton, was found guilty of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree. According to the announcement, this conviction stems from an incident in which Barnes was hired as an aide to assist in the care of an elderly man. Members of the elderly man's family became suspicious after they noticed that a camera in the victim’s room had been covered with tape. After a review of available footage, it was determined that Barnes had repositioned the victim’s bed, accessed a safe, and stole around $14,000 worth of jewelry.

Endicott Fuel Cell Energy System at Huron Campus Nears Completion

(Bob Joseph)
Utility crews are working at the site of a newly constructed natural gas fuel cell system on the Huron Campus in Endicott. Bloom Energy of California is the developer of the 9.36 megawatt facility on Clark Street, just west of Hayes Avenue. Keeley Construction crews built the power installation, which will provide more electricity to a data center on the Huron Campus. The construction work, which began in a Huron parking lot in February, was recently completed. Workers from NYSEG have been busy this week at the site. The fuel cell system is located near an existing substation. Broome County Executive Jason Garnar told WNBF News he's pleased to see the Bloom Energy installation in Endicott is nearing completion.

New Charges Pile Up For Delhi Man Accused Of Serious Crimes

(Don Morgan)
Monday, April 6, 2026, in a release from Delaware County District Attorney Shawn Smith, a Delhi man was indicted on 2 additional counts, in addition to other previous counts, totaling 22 charges. The new two-count indictment against 51-year-old David W. Gensler of Delhi, New York, occurred on April 2, 2026. He was remanded without bail based on felony charges from multiple previous indictments. According to the release from District Attorney Smith, on October 14, 2025, Gensler was indicted on 4 counts including Use of a Child Less than 17 Years of Age in a Sexual Performance, Disseminating Indecent Materials to Minors in the 1st Degree, Luring a Child into a Vehicle/Building to commit a crime, and Disseminating Indecent Materials to Minors in the 1st Degree.

Elevator and Water Issues Addressed at Downtown Binghamton Garage

(Bob Joseph)
Workers have been busy at the newest public parking garage in downtown Binghamton, repairing an elevator that stopped operating after water damaged electronic controls. People who park in the five-story city-owned ramp on Water Street had to use the stairs for the past couple of weeks when the elevator was out of service. The elevator has been repaired, and a sealant has been applied to sections of the top level of the garage to address the problem of water seeping into the structure. An Otis Elevator technician responded to the garage and inspected the equipment. He concluded, "Some electronic components were damaged due to a water leak." The $25 million parking garage next to Boscov's department store was constructed after the city demolished a ramp that had operated at the site for more than 50 years.

What To Expect At Johnson City's Upcoming Town Hall Meeting

(Don Morgan)
On Wednesday, April 8, 2026, Village of Johnson Mayor Christina Charuk announced that a public Town Hall will be held with the topics of street paving and infrastructure on the agenda, along with a focus on helping residents better understand how decisions are made and how the community can be part of the process. The Town Hall will be held on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Village Hall located on 60 Lester Avenue, Johnson City, and is open to all Johnson City residents and community members. Mayor Charuk noted that the Town Hall will offer Village residents a unique opportunity to hear directly about how paving plans are developed, what factors influence timelines, and how infrastructure priorities are set.

Binghamton Orders Demolition of Longtime Downtown Eyesore

(Bob Joseph)
A crumbling downtown Binghamton apartment building that's been considered a blighted property for more than a decade will be coming down. Mayor Jared Kraham on Friday said "time's up" for the owners of the structure at 263 Washington Street to tear it down soon, or the city will demolish it and send them the bill. The Kenmore Building was constructed around 1890. It was acquired in 2009 by an entity based in New Paltz for $57,000. At one point, the state was prepared to provide a $500,000 grant to help the owners renovate the historic building to create 26 "modern studio apartments." But the project was scrapped. Kraham told WNBF News the city has put the property owners "on notice that the building is a danger to public safety and they will have to demolish it as soon as possible."

Broome Land Bank May Buy Flood-Wrecked Vestal Nursing Home

(Bob Joseph)
Controversy has erupted around the possible purchase of a Vestal property where developer Isaac Anzaroot planned to develop a senior housing project. A member of the Broome County Land Bank board of directors quit after a vote to authorize the agency's executive director to offer up to $650,000 to buy the site at 860 Vestal Road. The nursing home was shut down due to flood damage the building sustained in September 2011. A proposal to buy the property was discussed during a county Land Bank executive session in late March. After that, in an open meeting, agency chairman Aaron Martin told the board, "There's a desire to move forward on this as soon as possible." Martin said there is a "proposed partnership between the Land Bank and Broome County" to buy the site and demolish the damaged building. He said "the county may be taking action very soon," but there was no explanation for the sudden urgency to deal with the situation.

Distracted Driving Awareness Month: New York's Campaign Details

(Don Morgan)
Every year, April is designated as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. New York State Police participate in this effort, as well as many other state organizations around the country. The theme for New York State  is “Put the Phone Away or Pay.” The campaign began on Monday, April 6, 2026, through Monday, April 13, 2026. Over the time period, New York State Troopers conducted targeted enforcement details that focused on motorists who were using electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle. New York State Police vehicles being used in this campaign included marked and unmarked vehicles. The unmarked CITE vehicles may not appear to be law enforcement vehicles since they blend in with traffic, but they are clearly identifiable when emergency lighting is activated. CITE vehicles allow NYS Troopers to better observe violations from an elevated vantage point.

Construction at "Riverside Gardens JC" Project Nearing Completion

(Bob Joseph)
The old Davis College campus in Johnson City is about to spring back to life with the upcoming opening of a 75-unit residential complex. Developer Dave Drew of Vestal said construction on the site off Riverside Drive is "going great," and he expects it can be completed by mid-June. Drew told WNBF News that the interior renovations of the existing buildings are "90 to 95 percent complete." The parking lot at the site of the $15.5 million project is expected to be paved in May. Drew said several dozen inquiries about Riverside Gardens have been received through the project website. Various floor plans will be available with studio apartments, along with units featuring one to three bedrooms. The post office on the former Davis College campus will remain open. The U.S. Postal Service extended its lease for the site around the time the property was sold.

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